Folding harrow.



, PATENTED J N. 1, 1907.

P. ADIX.

FOLDING HARROW. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1a, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

nu: NORRIS vzrsss co., wnsumcrou, n. c.

No. 839,800. PATEN'IED JAN. 1, 1907.

F. ADIX.

FOLDING HARROW.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.13. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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in the bars 5 by split pins or UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS ADIX, or rooms, IOWA.

FOLDING HARROW.

No. 839,800. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

Application filed September 13, 1906. Serial No, 334,446.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, FRANors ADIX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boone, in the county of Boone and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Harrows, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmgs.

My invention relates to improvements in harrows; and it consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

One object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction of folding sectionalsteel-frame harrows, and thereby render the same more durable-and efficient in operation and less expensive to manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the structural features by means of which they are attained, will be made clear by an examination of the specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference-numerals indicate corresponding portions throughout, and in which igure 1 is a top plan view of my improved harrow, showing it in position .for folding. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated'by the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view through the coupling or hinge-bar connecting certain of the tooth-bars of two sections of the harrow, said view being taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

My improved harrow consists, preferably, of three similar sections 1 .2 3, arranged side by side and hingedly connected, so that the two end or outside sections 2 3 may be folded together above the intermediate or middle section 1 when the device is not used for harrowing. Since said sections are substan tially alike, a description of one will suffice for all. Each section consists, preferably, of five transverse tooth-carrying bars or rods 4, mounted for rotation in three longitudinal connecting channel bars or beams 5. The latter are connected together and spaced apart by diagonal braces 6 in the form of metal strips having their angularly-bent ends bolted to the connectingbars. The toothbars 4 are in theform of metal tubes or gaspipes and project through openings in the connecting-bars 5, in which they rotate. They are prevented from sli ping endwise reys 7, passed through openings in the bars 4 on opposite sides of the bars 5. Washers 8 are interposed between said keys and the channeled sides of the bars 5, as shown. Any number of harrow-teeth of any suitable form may be arranged on each of the bars 4; but I preferably employ the spike-teeth 9 and arrange them as shown. These teeth have the lower ends of their square bodies pointed, and their upper ends are formed with reduced stems or shanks 10, which extend through openings in the bars 4 and are screw-threaded to receive nuts 11.

In order to adjust theteeth angularly and hold them adjusted, I provide on each of the bars 4 adjacent to its center an arm 12. These arms have their inner ends shaped to fit said bars and secured thereon by transverse pins, and their outer ends are pivotally connected to a connecting rod or link 14, which extends longitudinally and has its rear end pivoted to a hand-lever 15. The latter takes the place of arm 12 on the rear bar 4 andhas its lower end shaped to fit said bar and be secured thereon by a pin 16. The upper end of the lever 15 is formed with a handle and has pivoted to it a hand-piece 17, which operates a spring-seated pawl 18, slidably mounted on the lever and to engage a segmental rack 19, provided on the central connecting-bar 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen that by adjusting the lever 15 all of the teeth in the vharrow-section on which it is mounted will be simultaneously adjusted and may be held at any angle by properly locking the lever.

In order to permit the harroW to be readily moved from one field to another without the use of a sled, wagon, or the like, I provide on the middle section 1 runners 20. These runners are carried by the front and rear toothbars 4 and are so disposed that they are elevated above the ground when the teeth are engaged therewith and are lowered to engage the ground When the hand-lever is swung to elevate the teeth. Each of the runners 20 is in the form of a curved arm formed at one end with a portion 21, which is shaped to fit over one end of one of the said bars 4, on which it is retained by a transverse or cross pin 22.

When the harrow is supported on the runners 20, its two end sections 2 3 are swung upwardly together above the section 1 and may be retained in this folded position by a small chain or any other means. The folding tional draft-bar 31.

' tions of the harrow-sections is permitted by the hinge connection 23, provided between the adjacent ends of the front and rear toothbars 4 of each section. Each of the hinge connections 23 consists of a hook member 24 and an eye or loop member 25, the former being ada ted to detachably engage the latter. Each 0 the eye members 25 is formed with a reduced end or shank 26, adapted to fit into the outer end of one of the said bars 4 of the' section 1 and to be secured therein by the pin 22, which attaches the adjacent runner 20 to said bar. Each of the hook members 24 is formed with a similar end 27, adapted to fit into the inner end of one of the said bars 4 of one of the end sections 2 3 and to be secured therein by the stem or shank 10 of the endmost tooth on said bar, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

On the front end of the two outer connecting-bars 5 of each section is secured an apertured plate 29. The plates 29 on each section are connected by twisted clevises or clips 30 to one of the three members of a sec- The three members or sections of this draft-bar are connected by hinges 32, which have their pintles in longitudinal alinement with the hinge connections 23, so that the draft-bar folds with the harrow-sections 2 3. The middle member of the bar 31 is connected by links 33 to rings 34, which are in turn connected by links 35 to a ring 36, to which latter the draft animal or animals are attached. Each of the end members of the draft-bar 31 is connected by long and short links 37 38 to a ring 39, which is in turn connected by a short link 40 to one of the rings 34, as will be seen upon reference to Fig. 1. It will be observed that when the harrow-sections are open or in the position shown in said figure the pull or draft will be distributed equally on the three sections of the harrow by reason of the said link connecandthat when the harrow-sections are folded the draft will be entirely upon the middle section 1. In either position there is no strain whatever upon the hinge connecnections.

The construction, operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawln s.

it will be seen that the device is of simple, strong, durable, and comparatively inexpenmiddle folding them and lowering the runners 20, the

sive construction, that it is convenient and easy to handle, and that it is very effective in operation.

By hooking the sections together, then device may be pulled over any road or field or through any gate.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my said invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A harrow comprising intermediate and end sections, each consisting of a frame, tubular transverse bars therein, and teeth extending through said bars, runners upon certain of the bars of said intermediate section, crosspins for securing said runners on said bars, and hinge members secured in the ends of certain of said bars by said pins and said teeth.

2. A harrow comprising intermediate and end sections, each consisting of a frame, tubular transverse bars therein, and teeth extending through said bars, runners upon certain of the bars of said intermediate section, crosspins for securing said runners on said bars, hook-and-eye hinge members secured in the ends of certain of said bars by said pins and said teeth, a foldable draft connection for said sections, and means for adjusting said bars.

'3. A harrow comprising intermediate and end sections, each consisting of a frame, tubular transverse bars rotatable therein, and .teeth having reduced shanks extending through alining apertures in said bars, coacting hinge members having their shanks projecting into the opposing ends of certain of the tubular transverse bars of said sections, said shanks of the hinge members being apertured to receive the reduced ends of certa n of said teeth whereby said members are retained in said bars, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS ADIX.

Witnesses:

N. A. WALKER, CARL OLANDER. 

